Already a year had passed Jack was still with the Xavier institute, not knowing the reason why. As the weeks had passed he began to care less and less about why and more and more about learning about being a mutant. In one of his strolls with the professor he had learned about each of the other X-men and their powers. Jack had also discovered that the recent reports in the news weren't the first signs of mutancy. The mutations had been happening in noticeable numbers since the very early nineteen hundreds.
His practice times in the danger room were showing immense improvements. Blaze had moved past needing a thunderstorm. If he concentrated hard enough, he could call lightning from a clear blue sky. In his free time, Jack worked diligently with John to find a way to allow him to not just control but create fire. So far they had made no progress but weren't willing to give up.
Another two years quickly passed and Jack was celebrating his twentieth birthday. Beyond minor scuffles with the Brotherhood, which both components of FireBlaze were left out of, and a close call from a snoopy journalist who was ready to print a front page article on "activities" that he had witnessed going on in the mansion. Children disappearing through walls, manipulating objects and displaying other signs of the cursed mutant genes would get him a fat paycheck and Xavier hundreds of angry Protector extremists trying to harm his children.
Over the years, many new recruits had been welcomed to the school. Dr. Hank McCoy had graciously taken over the medical vacancy and Remy LaBeouf had arrived to annoy everyone. Along with them came a slew of new children, some as young as eight, dropped off by extremely worried parents and relatives.
It was not until the weekend of Jack's twenty-first birthday that anything exciting happened, if you can call horrific destruction and mass panic exciting. A dark presence had descended over the school. Telepathic students were constantly filling the medical lab complaining of extreme headaches every time they used their powers. Even Charles Xavier himself had been forced to visit McCoy for a checkup.
The night that McCoy finally let Xavier out of the lab was the night that changed Jack's life forever. A meeting was announced for all members of the X-Men team. Also Jack, John, Rogue and Bobby had been invited to join in the meeting.
"Our first order of business," said Xavier turning to the four students "is to decide whether or not to allow these four to join the X-Men. Before you make your decisions, I have been constantly monitoring John Alderdyce here and can assure you that his fear of Magneto is strong enough to ever prevent him from moving back."
Slowly but surely Scott, Hank, Remy, Ororo, Kurt, and Logon all nodded their heads. Hank and Remy had become X-Men upon their arrival. Their assets to the team were the only reason that they were contacted in the first place.
"Next, I have some bad news. A new mutant, more powerful than any we have ever faced, has appeared and is preparing to take over not just the Brotherhood, but I believe this institute as well"
"Then we have to stop him right?" pondered Kurt.
"I'm afraid it's not that easy," stated the professor as calmly as he could.
"What exactly do you mean?" this time it was Ororo speaking.
"I mean that this isn't just any new mutant. Oh no, she has had her powers for as long as you all have. What I believe happened was that after the dam at Alkali Lake burst, not everyone was killed."
"Jean…" trailed Scott as if he was in a trance
"I'm afraid so," replied Xavier.
Logon looked over at Scott and noticed that he was to busy trying to understand that his Jean was still alive. So instead of waiting for him to snap out of it, he continued, "What do you mean afraid so? We should be celebrating! One of our own is alive!"
"That's the problem, when Jean was drowned her mind managed to separate itself from her body long enough to allow the waters to calm. Once they had, mind and body were reunited, unfortunately when her body and mind rejoined, the Phoenix Entity was allowed to enter as well. Normally, Jean would have been able to at least attempt to expell the Entity, however, she can't just walk out of a lake and be alright, her genes were forced to mutate again to cope with the sudden separation. So, like the phoenix from fables, she has risen from the ashes of her former self, and the Phoenix Entity was able to take a strong hold on her before she was even aware of its presence. Meaning, she isn't the same person she used to be. Judging from the mental attacks on all telepathics in this building, and her new state of mind, Jean has returned as a completely different person."
Bobby looked around and back at the professor who had just seated himself on a plush chair before asking, "How do you know all this?"
"Simple really. While I was with Dr. McCoy, she and I had a little chat."
"You spoke to her?" cried Scott in disbelief. "What did she say?"
"That Jean was dead. Phoenix had risen from her ashes and was preparing to complete the task that Magneto has failed so many times."
"She wants to control the world? Upset the balance, she should know she could never do that," asked an exasperated Ororo.
"I'm afraid that she doesn't just want to control humans like Eric, rather she wants to literally, destroy the human race."
Nobody really could think of anything to say until Jack meekly asked, "If Phoenix is strong enough to kill every human what can we do to stop her and why hasn't she already?"
"Jean knows that the X-men would never allow it and the Brotherhood may not like humans but Eric is smart enough to know that a mass destruction is not only degrading but impossible. No, before she makes a move on humanity, she will come after us."
At these remarks, everyone needed some time to absorb what they had just heard. Xavier stood again, looked at his fellow X-men and agreed to allow them until morning to think before they would be heading out to Alkali Lake in search of what remained of the once proud Dr. Jean Gray.
The next morning, Xavier handed over temporary control of the school to Kitty Pryde and Jubilation Lee, the two oldest mutants not a part of the X-men.
When everyone was successfully piled into the X-jet, the team was back on their way to Alkali. As they approached the lake Jack felt the tension floating around like a piece of cloth, slowly strangling him. Luckily, John came to his rescue with some mindless banter and the reassuring click of his Zippo. The majority of the flight was taken in silence, but that all changed as soon as they landed. Scott jumped out of his seat and rammed through the half opened doors, letting in a blast of cold air. Once everyone was out side, the professor stumbled back a step, right into Remy.
"Professor, you aught to be more careful, no? We don't want you to break a bone."
However, the voice that responded didn't belong the Charles Xavier. It was a woman's voice, clear and beautiful. She sounded like a siren out of Homer's tales.
"X-men, welcome," she started, her words sounding twisted coming from the lips of an aged man, "I see your numbers have grown substantially since my former self sacrificed herself. Tell me, why have you returned when she gave up her life to get you away?"
"Jean!" cried Scott into the open, "Show yourself to us."
"Cyclops, I am no longer Jean Gray. You must always remember that. It will make your death easier. Although, I will show myself to you. It is always good to know thine enemy."
Just as the words faded out of the echoing valley, a short woman with intimidating white eyes floated down from the nearby forest and stood in front of her new rivals. She still held Jean's natural beauty and grace, but it was her eyes that had changed. Not just in colour, but in intensity. She looked as if she could destroy a life with only a glance.
Knowing the Phoenix Entity, thought the professor, she probably could.
A/N: Review? This came upon me while I was waiting for the computer to boot up. If you don't want to read it, don't.
Once upon a time, King Mario was king and head of the Toad family. He and his wife Queen Princess ruled the Yoshi universe. One day, the evil Duke Bowzer killed everyone and they all lived happily ever after, the ones who had only been damaged and not killed that is.
The End.
If you want, I can continue these ridicules stories.